He was a priest, author and composer born in Mere Hall, Cheshire, England, who studied at New College, Oxford. While at New College he received his ordination as a deacon and then a priest in 1897 and 1900 respectively and during these years he worked as the Assistant Curate in Darlington’s St. John the Evangelist Church.
He moved on to become the Bishop of Oxford’s Domestic Chaplain in 1901 during his 9-year stay there he also spent 3 years as an Assistant Curate at Windsor. In 1910 he became a vicar and for two years loed after the parish of Mentmore with Ledburn and this would be followed after just two years by him taking the position of Rector in Farnham, Surrey. He stayed in Farnham for 15 years until in 1928 he would accept the position of Canon of Canterbury and remain there until 1943 when he was 71 years old.
During his life he wrote many religious books such as St. Mark’s Gospel, Two Stages Of Its Making, Life of Francis Paget, Road Mending on the Sacred Way and The Original Jerusalem Gospel and he also ventured into translation of hymns and carols such as “Angelus ad Virginum” which he renamed “Gabriel to Mary Came” and the Easter poem “Now the Green Blade Riseth”.
He died in Farnham, Surrey, in 1958 when he was 86 years old.
Sources:
- http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/c/r/u/crum_jmc.htm
- http://worldcat.org/oclc/43520765?tab=details
- http://worldcat.org/wcpa/ow/654cc8c09f3c3649.html
- http://www.amberwavespublishing.com/descriptions/now_the_green_blade_riseth.asp
- http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/gabriel_to_mary_came-crum.htm
- http://www.oremus.org/hymnal/n/n151.html